Jaguar, Pantanal, Brazil

Brazilian Amazon & the Pantanal Wildlife Circuit

Spend two weeks in Brazil’s wild heart in search of unforgettable sightings, including the mighty jaguar.

  • TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAY IDEA

Duration

14 Days

Prices Start from

£5,895pp(ex. flights)

Travel into the habitats of Brazil’s most iconic wildlife, offering a window into their natural world. A rewarding trip that puts nature at centre stage, venturing into the beating heart of Brazil’s wildlife.

Navigate the vast wetlands of the Pantanal on a river safari in search of jaguar, before staying at an Amazon eco lodge only accessible by boat, where pink dolphins, giant river otters, sloth, toucan and caiman roam and over 600 species of birds live in the rainforest canopy. This two-week itinerary is tailed with a stay at a unique reserve in the foothills of the Mantiqueira mountains to see their extraordinary spider monkey, paca and cougar rewilding projects.

Key Highlights of this Itinerary

Aerial View of the Pantanal, Brazil 1

UNESCO Floodplains

Visit the Pantanal and explore this wildlife rich area on foot, on horseback and in canoes.

Jaguar, Pantanal, Brazil 2

Jaguar River Safari

Visit a protected jungle corridor, home to the highest density of jaguar on Earth.

Cristalino Lodge, Canopy Observation Tower, Brazil 3

Birds Eye Views

Enjoy endless views of the rainforest canopy and its resident birdlife from observation towers.

Hyacinth macaw, Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, South America 4

Wildlife Conservation

Stay in accommodation protecting the muriquis spider monkey and the blue macaw.

Explore our suggested itinerary

  • Day 1

    Sao Paolo - Cuiaba - Pantanal

  • Days 2-4

    Pantanal, Araras Eco Lodge

  • Day 5

    Pantanal - Cuiba - Alta Floresta - Amazon

  • Days 6-8

    Amazon, Cristalino Lodge

  • Days 9

    Amazon - Alto Floresta- Cuiba - Rio de Janeiro

  • Day 10

    Rio de Janeiro (Porto Bay Hotel)

  • Day 11

    Rio de Janeiro - Ibiti Project

  • Days 12-13

    Ibiti Project

  • Day 14

    Ibiti Project - Juiz de Fora - Sao Paolo

Day 1

Sao Paolo - Cuiaba - Pantanal

Fly from Sao Paolo to Cuibana where you will be met and transferred around two and a half hours to your accommodation in the Pantanal.

Days 2-4

Pantanal, Araras Eco Lodge

Spend the next three days exploring the Pantanal via the range of activities on offer at the lodge – walking trails, bird watching, horse riding and canoeing. On one of the days, travel two and a half hours south to the Cuiaba River for a river safari in search of jaguar.

Day 5

Pantanal - Cuiba - Alta Floresta - Amazon

Transfer back to Cuiba for a 60 minute flight to Alta Floresta. On arrival transfer approximately 90 minutes by road and 30 minutes by boat to your lodge in the Amazon.

Days 6-8

Amazon, Cristalino Lodge

Spend three days exploring the Amazon and its wildlife via a range of immersive activities, including rainforest hikes, river kayaking and boat trips. The observation towers offer sweeping panoramas of the emerald canopy and are ideal for spotting birdlife.

Days 9

Amazon - Alto Floresta- Cuiba - Rio de Janeiro

Transfer back to Alto Floresta for the 60 minute flight to Cuiba and onto Rio. On arrival transfer to your hotel.

Day 10

Rio de Janeiro (Porto Bay Hotel)

Spend a day at leisure exploring the city.

Day 11

Rio de Janeiro - Ibiti Project

Transfer overland approximately five hours to your accommodation.

Days 12-13

Ibiti Project

Spend two days exploring the area – walking or e-biking some of the beautiful trails, alongside lakes and waterfalls, horse-riding, canoeing or visiting their muriquis spider monkey conservation project. Relaxation in the spa or a spot of yoga is also an option.

Day 14

Ibiti Project - Juiz de Fora - Sao Paolo

Transfer approximately two hours to Juiz de Fora and fly to Sao Paolo for onward travel.

Our travel experts can tailor this itinerary to suit you.

More Details

Macaw, Brazil, South America
Macaw
Capybara, Ibera Wetlands, Argentina
Capybara
Amazon tree frog at night
Amazon tree frog

Wildlife of the Amazon and Pantanal

By combining the towering rainforest canopies and meandering rivers of the Amazon, with the swamp, savannah grasslands and forests of the Pantanal, this suggested holiday to Brazil offers the chance to see some of Brazil’s most iconic wildlife. Over 600 species of bird, from the harpy eagle in the Amazon to blue hyacinth macaw in the Pantanal, 2,000 species of butterflies and over 60 mammal species, including monkeys, capybaras, tapirs and giant river otters. The freshwater wetlands of the Pantanal are also home to ocelot, maned wolf and jaguar.

Jaguar, Pantanal, Brazil
Jaguar, Pantanal, Brazil
Giant Brazilian Otters, Brazil
Giant river otter, Pantanal
Capybara, Caiman Ecolodge, Pantanal, Brazil
Capybara, Pantanal, Brazil

Jaguar River Safari

From Araras Eco Lodge, head out on a floating safari following the waterways of the Cuiaba, Piquiri and Tres Irmaos rivers in search of the mighty jaguar that scour the banks for prey. Known as the Jaguar Corridor, this region is home to the highest density of jaguar in the world, greatly increasing the chances of sightings. Giant river otters, caiman and capybara also inhabit the wetlands.

Muriquis spider monkey, Brazil
Muriquis spider monkey

Muriqui’s House

In partnership with the Muriqui Instituto de Biodiversidade, Ibiti Project are working to increase the population of the critically endangered muriquis spider monkey, of which there are currently only 900 individuals in the wild. A stay here supports these efforts and you will have the chance to view the project in action at Muriqui’s House.

How does this holiday make a positive impact?

A stay at Cristalino lodge includes a fee of USD$95 per person, which goes directly to the Cristalino Foundation in support of various educational and research programmes. A Day in the Forest is one of their projects, established in 2008. This workshop offers local schools the chance to explore nature trails and learn about the flora and fauna of the ecosystem, raising their awareness of the forest and the importance of preservation and conservation.

At Ibiti Project, the use of products without packaging is prioritised and any waste material recycled. Organic produce is grown on site, red meat and saltwater fish are not on the menu and leftovers are composted, transformed into humus and used as fertiliser. Walk, cycle or ride a horse to explore. Guests who drive their car within the reserve are charged an ‘environmental fee’, which is donated to the Zero Footprint tree-planting project.

Once seen as competition by local fishermen and in real danger of extinction, giant otters are now seen on three out of five river excursions from Araras Eco Lodge. The team here have built relationships with local communities, by monitoring the otters, visiting riverside farms and showing communities how tourism and these beautiful mammals can be of economic benefit and joy to all on the river.

Accommodation

Below you can see some of the wonderful places we have recommended for this journey.

Araras Eco Lodge £££££

  • Brazil
  • Safari and Wildlife Lodge

Nestled amongst vast, lush wetlands, Araras Eco Lodge was constructed to blend in with its natural surroundings and is committed to local environmental initiatives such as inhibiting deforestation along the banks of the Rio Clarinho and encouraging hyacinth macaws to nest in the Northern Pantanal. The 19 rooms are simple and furnished in a rustic regional style with ceiling fans and screened windows.

View Property

Cristalino Lodge £££££

  • Brazil
  • Safari and Wildlife Lodge

Cristalino Lodge is nestled beside the banks of the Cristalino River in a private forest reserve in the southern Amazon Rainforest. There are 18 rooms, ranging from standard to spacious bungalows set within the forest. All the accommodation has ceiling fans and screened windows allowing the sounds of the jungle into the room as well as hammocks outside. The bungalows have in addition an outside shower set in a private garden. As well as an extensive network of walking trails through the rainforest and canoeing options, Cristalino Lodge boasts a 50-metre canopy tower with three different platforms for watching wildlife below and above the canopy, and there is a screened tree house for chance sightings of tapirs and peccaries that arrive to feed on the salt clay.

View Property

Porto Bay Rio Janeiro £££££

  • Brazil
  • City

Porto Bay Rio Janeiro is a contemporary-style hotel directly opposite Copacabana Beach. The hotel’s 117 rooms are beautifully appointed with large picture windows or private balconies from which to enjoy sweeping views along Copacabana Beach.

View Property

Ibiti Project £££££

  • Brazil
  • Farmstead and Ranches

Three hours’ drive from Rio lies Ibiti Project, a 4,000-hectare private reserve that aims to preserve and reforest native plant species, and create wildlife corridors. At the centre of the reserve is Fazenda do Engenho, a traditional farmhouse dating back to 1715. In 2006 it was lovingly restored, keeping the original colonial characteristics to create a wonderful eight-room hotel.

View Property

Start planning your trip


Send us an enquiry

Complete our enquiry form and start your next journey.

Review Contact Form

Name(Required)
Hidden

A note on price

Prices will vary depending on the time of year you are travelling. Prices do not include international flights. Please ask one of our Travel Experts for an accurate quote. Flights purchased through Steppes Travel departing from the UK are ATOL protected.

This Itinerary
Price
From £5,895 Per person

When to travel

Brazil in January

January to March is the peak of summer across the country, with many locals having time off in February. Carnival often takes place at this time too. There is more rainfall in the Amazon and the south but it is also the warmest time of year across the country.

Brazil in February

January to March is the peak of summer across the country, with many locals having time off in February. Carnival often takes place at this time too. There is more rainfall in the Amazon and the south but it is also the warmest time of year across the country.

Brazil in March

January to March is the peak of summer across the country, with many locals having time off in February. Carnival often takes place at this time too. There is more rainfall in the Amazon and the south but it is also the warmest time of year across the country.

Brazil in April

April and May is a good time to travel as temperatures drop a little. There is generally plenty of sunshine in the south, with the Amazon and Pantanal starting to receive a little less rain too.

Brazil in May

April and May is a good time to travel as temperatures drop a little. There is generally plenty of sunshine in the south, with the Amazon and Pantanal starting to receive a little less rain too.

Brazil in June

June and July is a great time to visit the south, especially around Rio and Sao Paolo. It is also a good time to visit the Amazon and Pantanal, with slightly lower temperatures and less rain. It is a wetter time for the north and east coast.

Brazil in July

June and July is a great time to visit the south, especially around Rio and Sao Paolo. It is also a good time to visit the Amazon and Pantanal, with slightly lower temperatures and less rain. It is a wetter time for the north and east coast.

Brazil in August

Between August and October is possibly the best time to visit the Amazon and Pantanal. It is still fairly dry in the south, but it can be cool in the evenings in Rio. It dries up in the north and remains warm.

Brazil in September

Between August and October is possibly the best time to visit the Amazon and Pantanal. It is still fairly dry in the south, but it can be cool in the evenings in Rio. It dries up in the north, and remains warm.

Brazil in October

Between August and October is possibly the best time to visit the Amazon and Pantanal. It is still fairly dry in the south, but it can be cool in the evenings in Rio. It dries up in the north, and remains warm.

Brazil in November

November and December see the dry season comes to an end in the south, as temperatures heat up. November can be a great time to visit Rio as it is warmer but remains fairly dry. Rainfall increases again in the Pantanal and the Amazon.

Brazil in December

November and December see the dry season comes to an end in the south, as temperatures heat up. November can be a great time to visit Rio as it is warmer but remains fairly dry. Rainfall increases again in the Pantanal and the Amazon.

Why Choose Steppes?

Our knowledge, curiosity and expertise set us apart, driving us to create remarkable holidays and Beautiful Adventures tailored perfectly to you, carefully curated to help protect and conserve our planet.

Are you ready to Discover Extraordinary?


More about Steppes

F L E X I B I L I T Y P R O M I S E B O O K W I T H C O N F I D E N C E

Get in touch

  • By sending your enquiry you are stating that you agree to our T&C

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.